Anti-Rust Car Products Garden City KS

Your vehicle is in a constant state of decline from the second it leaves the factory. Few problems can damage your car's resale value like unsightly rust, so why not do what you can now to keep it safe from oxidation now?

5 Ways to Protect against Rust

5 Ways To Protect Against Rust By Zach Bowman, DriverSide Contributing Editor If you drive a new car or truck, odds are rust is the last thing on your mind. Unfortunately, your vehicle is in a constant state of decline from the second it leaves the factory. Few problems can damage your car's resale value like unsightly rust, so why not do what you can now to keep it safe from oxidation now?

First, it ís important to understand what rust is. If you remember anything from chemistry class, you've probably heard of iron oxide. Basically, iron oxide is a product of iron and oxygen when water is present. As the reaction progresses, the iron is consumed, resulting in rust and a small amount of hydrogen . Since your vehicleís body is made up of steel, an iron alloy, it's susceptible to rust. If it were left unprotected, all of your car's sheet metal would waste away in a few short years.

Fortunately, manufacturers realized early on the best way to protect metal from oxidation was to paint it. Doing so seals the material off from oxygen and moisture, thereby stopping the reaction. While we may think the color of our car is as more of a fashion statement, the truth is paint is there to simply protect your purchase from crumbling into the Earth. While modern manufacturing techniques do a great job of protecting your carís metal from rust, improper care can make it susceptible to deterioration. Here are a few ways you can keep your car rust free.

1. Store Your Vehicle Indoors

We know this isn't an option for everyone, but storing your car or truck in an enclosed garage is one of the best ways to protect it against rust. Extreme changes in temperature and exposure to sun and precipitation will weaken your car's paint over time, and eventually rust will take hold. What's more, small scratches can become big problems when your car is exposed to the elements on a daily basis. Keeping your car indoors is the best thing you can do to keep it safe from rot.

2. Keep It Clean

Weather isn't your only problem. Failing to keep your car clean puts it on the fast track to rust. As you drive, dirt collects in your car's various nooks and crannies. Where dirt resides, moisture will follow, and the muddy mess will eventually wear down the protective paint to bare metal. From there, it won't take long for rust to do its worst. Keeping your car -- especially your fender wells -- clean is essential to keeping rust at bay. If you can, give your car a good wash once a month.

3. Touch Ups

If you drive your car, it's going to suffer road rash. The trick to minimizing the damage is to repair serious paint chips while they're still small. That means getting an appropriate vial of touch up paint and tackling imperfections as quickly as you can. Failing to do so is like leaving the door open to rust, and small scratches will e...

There are many tips to sprucing up your car’s paint or preventing the interior from looking worn in the first place, but the wheels need attention too. If your painted metal is looking the worse for wear, here’s how to repair it yourself without spending a fortune.